by Kara-Leah Grant
Facilitating retreat is always a powerful experience, not just for the retreatees, but also for myself and the other facilitators. I know that I'm going to get triggered, that my ideas and beliefs will be challenged, and my unconsciousness revealed.
This is the process of retreat, and it is immensely rewarding. In the middle of the fire though, it's damned hard work.
Case in point:
The Heart of Joy, Bali. I’m co-facilitating with Ben Ralston. It's only the second retreat … [Read more...]

By Lucinda Staniland & Kara-Leah Grant
The explosion of yoga in the last decade has also seen an explosion of yoga festivals. Of course, festivals focused on consciousness have been happening for much longer - Prana Festival here in New Zealand had a 25 year history. While it is sadly no more, there are many other festivals that you can attend where you have a high chance of engaging with more conscious folk.This is a list of some of the festivals coming up over the summer festival … [Read more...]

By guest author Keeley Mitchell, Zi Living
Yoga classes may be conducted in silence if ASCAP, BMI, and SESCAP keep going after yoga studios for music licensing fees.
You may have noticed that The Business Side of the Mat took a hiatus when the New Year rang in. However, The Business Side of the Mat is back with even more juicier legal and business advice for yogis.During my hiatus, a growing issue in the business world of yoga took center stage in the United States. My phone started to … [Read more...]

by Kara-Leah Grant
I've been putting off writing this review because I've got some critical things to say, and I didn't want to be critical of the wonderful folk behind Yogawoman.They've done a stellar job of telling an important story and bringing awareness of yoga to the masses. Now they've released an album to go with the movie.Who am I to nitpick?
But here at The Yoga Lunchbox, honesty rules. Self-aware, compassionate and mindful honesty that is.
I must have listened to this album … [Read more...]

Get your Shine On! This 7- day renewing and cleansing retreat will leave you shining.
Join Ryan Leier in Bali at Soulshine, the magical luxury retreat centre created by Michael Franti to bring community together to share yoga, music, and meditation. Located in Ubud, the epicenter of Balinese culture, art, food, music and medicine, the healing and creative power of this place will leave you shining.For more information, go to One Yoga's website. … [Read more...]

Dive deeper into the power of music as you fine tune and enhance your skills as a kirtanist, receiving constructive feedback and guidance.
“Kirtan is a very powerful way of accessing the depths of your being and tasting a drop of the pure self, but what is more beautiful is that you share that experience with the group through the energetic expression of your voice… and we all can feel that.”An immersion in kirtan and chanting where you will have the opportunity to expand and practice … [Read more...]

Connect with the joy of music and self-expression as you discover your skills as a kirtanist."You can hear peoples’ hearts in their voice. My job is to open up my own heart so that people can feel theirs and find their heart sound. We can all sing. We all have the ability to find our voice and sing from the heart." ~ ChakradhyanKirtan is a practice of Nada Yoga, the yoga of sound and Bhakti Yoga, the yoga of the heart and emotions. In Kirtan, mantras are chanted in a call-and-response … [Read more...]

by Kara-Leah Grant
Joy's been on my mind this week. Mostly because I was noticing a lack. Understandable - my life has been intense, on many levels, over the last few weeks. Seems just when I think I've got one area or aspect mastered, the stakes are upped again. That's cool. I can deal. But if I don't watch it, I can also get way too serious.Fortunately, I also have a magic tonic. Anytime I start getting too somber, too depressing, too serious, too stressed out, too hung up on life's ups … [Read more...]

Yoga of Sound & Stillness, a Yoga Workshop with Swami Muktidharma
Enjoy a depth of practice for the body and mind to bring the unsettled river to a point of stillness.Join Swami Muktidharma, Yoga Acharaya (authority), inspiring international speaker and teacher with over 40 years of experience dedicated to uplifting humanity"In the turbulent river, you cannot see... but in the still lake, the reflection of the full moon shines bright"Nada Yoga (yoga of sound)
Yoga postures … [Read more...]

Yoga and Sacred Feminine – Weekend Retreat
During this sacred and powerful weekend we share from the heart, shedding light into the spaces that are often hidden and pushed aside in the hustle and bustle of daily life.Exploring music, dance, yoga and creativity to expand, liberate and unite. Feel the force of an all women’s gathering, the energy behind creation and existence.Join us in this safe and supported space, opening to transformation, surrendering to the moment and igniting the … [Read more...]